Blue Flag Beaches – The cleanest, safest beaches in Costa Rica. March 2009

A total of 63 beaches on the Pacific and the Caribbean will fly the Ecological Blue Flag this year, after passing a difficult exam.

63 beaches passed throughout several examinations, such as water quality, cleanliness and security. These beaches comply with the requirements to get one, two, three or four stars for its sanitary security and adequate environment for swimmers.

The Costa Rica beach with the best possible points – the shining star is Punta del Madero en Guanacaste with four stars.

Costa Rica Beaches – The Losers. The following beaches lost their Blue Flag:

• Hermosa
• Coco Norte
• Punta Uvita in Carrillo, Ganacaste.
• Piñuela in Puntarenas.

This program started in 1996, and it’s carried out by the Aqueducts and Sewers Institute (A&SI), the ministries of Health, Environment and Education, by the National Chamber of Tourism (NCT) and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (CRTI).

Annual Distinction:

The Ecological Blue Flag program integrates experts from the ministries of Health, Education and Environment, as well as from the A&SI, NCT and the CRTI.

Four categories: the initiative started back in 1996, like an award that was given to the cleanest beaches; then the schools category and the communities’ category was open. This year, a fourth category was open to award the zones that protect wooded areas.

Water quality, solid waste use and environmental education are some of the points evaluated. Each category has its parameters. This is an annual evaluation, which means that any beach, community or school can lose its flag.

Our thanks to our friends at La Nación – Costa Rica’s largest Spanish circulation newspaper for their permission use their graphics.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.